Paper-feeding machine.



H. BRADSHAW.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. lo. 19:4.

1,209,1 10. n Patented Dee. 19,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

X11/MMO@ H. BRADSHAW.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINL APPLICATION mno oc'r. 1o, 1914.

Patented Dec. 19,71916,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Nm. mi www @u n W hw.. mw. Sw n w\% #www Wneoom H. BRADSHAW.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT-10. 1914. 1,209; 10, Patented De0 19,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anos/Wto@ H. BRADSHAW.

PAPER EEEDING MACHINE.

APPucAnoN msn ocr. 1o, 1914.'

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT oEEicE.

HARRY BRADSHAW, F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK G. CASWLL,

OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

y Specification of Letters Patent. i

PatentedDec. 19, 1916.

, Application filed October 10, 1914. Serial No. 866,127.

To all whom t final concern.

Befit known,that"I,y HARRY I`S1i.-\DsHAw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, iii he' county vof Henrico and State of lVirginia, 'have invented certain new and 'useful Improveliients iii IaperFeeding Machines, of4 which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in paper "feeding machines. l

T he; o'bject of my invention is to provide a machine of this character, which is adapted to feed the sheets of paper separately.

from a pile to a ruling machineor printing press without creasing or otherwise defacing the sheet, and at the same time. will in@ sure vthe sheets being fed in perfect alinement.

Another object of my invention is `to prov-id'e a machine of this character, 1n which slieetsl ,of any size can be accurately and ,.:K'eitlyfed to a machine without the com- "plicatedfadjustment necessary in the ordijin'ary machine.

i further object of my invention is to prov-ide a machine in which the sheets are lifted from the pile of paper, and positively insures the feeding of the sheets separately from the pile, and thus causes each and all of the sheets to be separately acted upon bythe machine -to which they are fed..

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sheet feeding machine of this character, which is simple in construction and operation and' having certain details of structure and operation hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is-a side elevation of my improved paper feeding machine; Fig. 2 is a front view, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1i Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View, taken on the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken 0n the line of Fig/2; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view "similar to Fig. 4l, showing the paper holding means, for holding the top sheet when it is being .buckled `to allowy the nger to pass under the same; Fig. Gis a similar view to'Fig. 5, showing the roller for moving thel sheetsforwardly to bring them intoengagement with the sheet con.-

Qvey'ing'tapes; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of-one of `the nests carrying the sheet lifting mechanism ;l and Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the paper conveying tapes, showing them twisted for straightening thesheets, and al'sosliowing the guide plate at one side; Fig.. 9 is an enlarged top plan View, partly in section, showing the driving means for the'rollers.

In feedingdevices of this character, the great vdifficulty has been in separating rthe top sheet from a; pile without defacing it and toabsolutely insure the feeding of a single sheet through the machine at one time. Another difficulty has been in providing for the proper pressure upon the pile of paper, when sheets of different sizes are used.

Y Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the frame 0f my improved feeder, which, as shown, is -of rectangular form and is adapted to be placed adjacent the ruling machine, or the printing press, and the working parts thereof are adapted to receive their power therefromyas will be hereinafter moi'e fully described. The frame l 4is formed in two sections 2 and 3, spaced a considerable distance apart and connected .together in any desirable manner.

The rear end of each section 2 and 3 isv The upper shaft 6, on the inside of the sec-1 tion 2, is provided with a sleeve 10 loosely mounted thereon and hav-ing rigid oppositely extending armsllind 12. The lower end of said arm 12 is connectedjo a for? wardly extending rod 13, the purpose ofv jwhich will be later described. The upper end of the arm 11 has connected theretothe rod 14, which has its -out ei end connected to 'a' band 15', passing over the pulley 16,'

Qur

wardly to the press or ruling machine. The

roller 1.) is provided with peripheralgrooves 21, in which the conveying belts 20 run, and which prevents any. erlasing or inpiry to the sheets of paper as they pass over theroller 19.

larried by the forward end of the arms on the frame 1, below the roller 1S), 4is a roller Directly above the roller 1t), and mounted within the sections 2 and 3, of the frame l, is a small rolle'rA 23, and in the rear thereof, and mounted in the saine manner, is a roller 24. Passing around theroller 22 are endless lifting belts 25, which pass upwardly over the roller 19 around the small rollei' 24 and forward over the upper face of the roller 23 and downwardly to the roller 22, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of. the drawings. These lifting belts 25 are arranged between the conveying belts 20, as fully shown in Fig. .2 of the drawings.

The table 2o; upon which the pile of sheets of paper are stacked, is below the conveying belt 2U. and is provided at its outer end with a slightly inclined end plate 2T, against which the edges of the sheets of paper rest. 'l`his end plate, as shown, is in a vertical line with the outer periphery of the roller 19 and is slightly inclined rearwardly for the purpose of holding the pile of paper with each succeeding sheet with its edgelslightly in the rear of the other sheet in order that the lifting finger. hereinafter described, will not engage the sheet below. and. therefore. but a single sheet of paper will he. raised from the pile at one operation of the machine.

The sheet lifting.mechanism consists of two L-shaped frames 2S and 2E). arranged in front of the sections 2 and I of the frame l. and connected together by the rods Il() and I; at their upper and lower ends and held in their spaced relation by said rods. Directly below theL-shaped frames :2S and 29, the sections 2 and Il are provided with sprockets 52 and 35i. over which the chains CH and pass. The ends of the chains 34 and $35 are respectively fastened'to the bottoni ofthe frames 2H. 2f), and the said chains pass upwardly over the, sprocket wheels 3G and il?. mounted upon opposite ends ol' the shaft li'. rl'hese sprocket chains 214 and 35 pass downwardly and are respectively connected to the upper ends of the frames 2S and iff). ly this structure. it. will be seen that the. sheet raising mechanism is substantially vertically movable.

In order to hold the sheet lifting mechaiiism. in a balanced position. so that the weight at both ends thereof will be equal, l provide the two arms 3S and 39. which have their frontends pivotally connected to the rear end of the sections 2 and Si of the frame 1. The forward end of these arms are provided with hooks 40, which are adapted'to hook in the chains 34 and 35. as clearly shown iii Fig. 1 ot' the drawing. Slidably mounted on these arms 3S and B9 are weights 41 and '42, adjustably held by the set screws 43, whereby the tension of the arms on the chains 34 and 35 is varied by sliding the weights on the arms.

The rod 13 has secured at its outer end a. plate 44, carrying a roller 45. .\djacent the plate 44, the sheet lifting frame luis mounted therein a Shaft 46 carrying a cam 4S. provided with a clit-away portion-49. which is adapted to receive the roller 'to allow the plate 44 to move inwardly to release the brake band 15, whereby the roller 16 is released and the sheet raising mechanism is raised or lowered. This cani is timed with the rest of the inechanisnnas will be hereinafter described, so that it will operate at the proper time,

The shaft 46. as heretofore described. is mounted in the L-shaped members forming the sheet lifting inecha'nisrii and the rod 50 connects the L-shaped members QS and 9.9. Arranged between the L-sliaped lnemlmrs of the sheet lifting mechanism, on the shaft 19, theI rodsI 50 and 3l and the shaft 4G are arranged two nests which carry the sheet lifting mechanism proper. These nests are longitudinally movable upon the rods and shafts and are precisely alike. a'nd, therefore. l will describe but one of these nests.

By the longitudinal movement of the nests. it will be seen that they may be brought into such a position that both are working upo the paper and also to bring them in .such a position as to work upon pa ier of dil'erent sizes. The lifting tapes an( the conveving tapes. as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. extend entirely across the front of 'the inachine, so that, no matter in what position the'.

nests are arranged. the Itapes'will take the paper and convey it upwardlyiand forwardly to the press oi' ruling machine, as heretofore descrilad.

'lhc nests are coinposed'of two side members 51 and 52,y coni'iected in any desired manner and having the offset portions 5? to extend around the roller 19, over which the sheet conveying tapes 20 pass. and

whereby they nests are free to move longi-V tudinally'aiul not interfere with the. tapes. Mounted upon the shaft 46, and slidable thereon. but held in its relative position between the plates 5l and 52. is a cam Vii' which has a band 5i surrouiuling the cam and provided with a pitinan 55 which extends do'wnwardly and is pivotally connected at 56 to a link 57 which is pivotally mounted upon the rod 3 1. Mounted upon the pivot 56 of the pitman 55 are two forward-ly' extending s aced arms 58 ar d"5 9, which have mounted tween their forward ends a rectangular shaped member 60. Between the yarms 58 and 59, intermediate their ends, is

-. a roller 61 and passing over lthe roller 61 and over the rectangular shaped member is a rubber belt-62 of an endless form. The

rectangular shaped member is so positioned Vbetween the arms that it has one of itsflat surfaces in a horizontal plane and is adapted to engage the top sheet of a pileof paper and buckle it when moved forward.)- The i "a newvsurface'toengoge' theqpap endless belt is for 'the 'purpose of bringing This y has been found vto be a very mar ed imbrought into engagement with the paper. `i on Yeach operation or in so many operations of the paper lifting mechanism. In order to lso provement, asin the old forin the .roller v `soonbeoame dovered with the very fine lint upon' t paper and would .not take a ood hold` epaper to `buckle it. By t e rubber belt 62 it will be seen that ta greater sur` face is obtained which `will not become coveredby the' lint in as .short a time, and the rubbeibelt will not become heated by fric#P v' tionwith the paper, as a new surface is,

i Acause-this belt to travel around the rectanf guiar shaped member 60, I provide a ratchet v'63, mounted upon the shaft of roller 6l.

ALroosely mounted ,upon the shaft of the roller` 61,` by slots 61, are theupwardly extending links 64, between which is pivotally mounted the rod 651rigidly mounted upon thev rod 50. One of the links 64 is provided with a paWl 62', which engages the ratchet 63 and when the arms 58 and 59 are'gmoved .forwardly through the medium ofthe pitman andthe cam 53, as heretofore described, the links 64 are held against v any material forward movement, so that zthe pawl will travel over the ratchet and 'upon' the backward movement of the arms- 58- Vand 59'the ratchet is rotatedbarrying 'vlwith it the roller 61,`whioh causes the belt 62 to move forward and turn the'rectangular shaped-member to bring another surface in position to engage the paper.

Loosely mounted upon the rod 31 is a :f forwardly extending afm 66 'to which are pivoted the forwardly extending fingers 67 Aand-68, which are adapted to rest lupon the pile .of pap'er, and while I have shown two ofvthe'se lingers, it will be understood that l fa/'single finger could be used, but in actual ."practice the double fingers have been found to be more practical;

Mounted rigidly upon the rod 5() by set sv'sgrews lis a sleeve 69, which has loosely co-n- *nected thereto an arm 70, which is normally held in engagement with, the cam 71, mounted upon the -shaft 46 by 'means of the springs 722 which has one" end secured to a pin 72 carried'by the sleeve 69 and the opposite end secured to the hook 70 carried bythe arm 70. The lower end of the arm 70 has pivotally connected at 72 the lifting finger 73. This lifting finger is held downwardly upon the finger 67 byImeans of a spring 74, as clearly shown in F ig. 4 of the drawings. This lifting finger 73 is adapted to be moved inwardly by the cam 71 and after the paper has been buckled, as hereinafter described,

and released, the paper is above the lifting -finger.

In order to move the paper rearwardly when thelifting finger 73 is moved outwardly, I have provided a friction roller 751 mounted yupon the bell crank 76, which is pivoted at 77 to the main frame of the ma chine. ,The upper end of the bell crank 76 is pivoted to a link 78, and the upper end of` said link'is pivotally connected to the member 79, which is mounted upon the rod 50 and adapted to rock'thereon. Springs 78. are attached/to the member 79, so as to hold` the same against the cam and hold the roller 75 against the paper. The shaft 46, above the member 79, is provided with a cam 80 which is adapted to vforce the upper end .of the member 79j\downward for raising the roller 75 o'ff of` the sheet of paper. When, the roller `I7d isiin its ldown-l ward position upon the sheet of paper,.which 1s resting upon the finger73,itwill be seen that as the finger 73 is drawnoutwardly ,the

frictional contact between `the roll'ci'vl and the paper will cause the paper to'fravel upwardly between the endless belt-'or ta'pcs. 20 .and 25 and the sheet of paper continues.`

Q ment with the sprocket on the roller 2l by anidlc roller 24. The belts or tapes 25 are also driven by frictiorial contact with the roller 19, as will be fully understood by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The cams 53', 7l, 80 and 85 are timed so that the parts operated thereby will work at the proper time.l as heretofore described. In order to hold the paper while it is being buckled by the bucklinginechanism, heretofore described, I provide the shaft IlGwith a cani 85, operating upon aspring pressed rod 86, longitudinally movable in the me1n-.

ber l87, which is loosely mounted upon a thvin to travvl through thv niavhi BEST AVAiLABLE coiD` slvvvv on thv rod 50. Thv invluhvr Si is providvd with au arni HS. whit-h vngagva a vain Si). niounlvd on thv lhaft lt', and hvld thvrvon bv thv spring SS'. \\'hvrvb thv rod Sli is rovkvd to forvv it ahovv thv pilv of papvr` thv l pring T2 withdrawing it. 'l`hv lowvr vnd of thv rod Sti is providvd with a foot il()` whivh is'adaptvd to hv swung iuwardlv and downwardly h v thv vainl S3 and Si). and adaptvd to lwustain thv wvight of thv 'lifting' nivt'hanisin and to liruilv v lalnp thv pilv of papvr whvn thv buvkliug lnvvhanisln is opvratvd. so that thv top hvvt of thv pilv of papvr will liv huvklvd. as lhvrvtoforv dvstfribvd.

1n this inavhinv. thv papvr workvd front onv sidv of thv lnat-hinvvv 'ln ordvr to guidv thv shvvtl of papvr ind vanav iiv and to hv dvlivvrvd to thv prvss or rulingtuavhint` iii au` ahsolutvly straight position` l providv thv sidv of thv niavhinv.l adjat'vut thv tapvs about midway hvtwvvn thv front and rvar. with a -guidv ill. aS vlvarlv .shown in Fig. h'. The frainvof thv niavhinv adjavvut thv gnid'v Ellis providvd with spirally arrangvd guidvs 92. through which thv vonvvving tapv4 0 pass and thv l aid guidvs-arv so arraugvd as to vausv thv vtapva` 2t) to twist on vdgv and thus throw thv l hvvt of papvr toward thv guido to vansv it to :iSslunv a position pat'allvl thvrvwith and thul hv fvd through thv ulavhiuv in thv propvr position to hv vorrvvtlv fvd to thv prvss or ruling ruavhinv. rlhvsv l and vavh invvvdin; r svrivs living of grvatvr liuvar vxtvnt. thus thv tvudvnvy to pass or fvvd thv shvvts into thv guidv is as positivv on thv largv l hvvt to prvvvnt. thvni from hving turnvd too far.

djavvnt thv shaft Ll is a squarv lahaft 93 carrying rvarwardlv v.\'tvuding guidvs 9J having a l ifurvatvd,v'inl through whivh thv bvlts 25 thv saniv.

Having thus dvsvribvd my invention, what l vlaim as new and dvsire to svvnre by Lettvrs Patvnt, is: V

1. In a papvr fvvdvr. thv combination with conveying and lifting tapvs, A a buckling luvvhanisin.' a lifting lingvr adapted to move under thv paper attvr it has bvvn buckled, and a rollvr adapted to be moved down upon -thv shvvt of papvr above thv. lifting linger and thv slivvt fvd bvtwcvn the conveying and lifting tapes by the backward lnovvnicnt of thv. lifting linger.

2. ln a' papvr fvvdvr, thv vombination with guidvs arv arrangvd in thrvv svrivs.

pass and svrvv as guidvo` for outward inovvuivnt of thv lifting finger vausv 4 thv rollvr to fvvd a slivvt ot' papvr upwardly hvtwvvn thv vonvtving and lifting tapvs.

Il. ln a fvvdvr. thv volnhinalion with vonvvving and lifting tapvl pa.-. ing ovvr thv saniv rollvr. a lun'kling' nivt'hanisin. lingvrs rvsting upon thv Shvvtiol papv' and adaptvd to turn thv vdgv upwardl \v aftvr living huvlt'lvda tingvr adaptvd to ntovv forwardly bvlow thv upwardly turnvd vnd of thv'shvvt of papvr. and a rollvr adaptvd -to hv brought down upon thv `ln-vt ot' papvr ahovv thv liugvr.whvrvhy thv outward Inovelnvnt of thv tingvr vausvs thv lhvvt to travel upwardly bvtwvvn thv von\'v ;ing and lifting tapvs.

l. ln a tvvdvr. thv vonihinationfwith von- "vvying and lifting tapvs` of a horizontally niovahlvlbuvkling invvhanisni. a lingvr rvst- 'ing upon thv pilv ot' papvr aud'adaptvd to inwardly bvlow thv turnvd vdgv of thv shet'.

yof papvr aud a rollvr adaptvd to bv brought', down upon thv shvvtof papvr ahovv thv nivnt of 'thv lifting tingvr vausvs thv sheet of papvr to travvl upwardly bvtwvvn the vonvvving and lifting tapvs.

5. .lu a papvr fvvdvr` thv voinhination with lifting and couvvyiug tapvs arranged ahovv thv pilv of papvr. do\vn\\'ardl curved tingvrs rvsting upon thv pilv of papvr', a buc' lt'ling uivvhanislu adaptvd to vilgagethe top slivvt of apilv of papvr. invaus for clamping thv pilv of papvr during thv buvkling operation. an inwardly vxtvnding fingvr adapted to travvl b'vlow thv buvklvd shvvt. a roller vugaging thv hvvt ahovv thv linger, said lingvr adaptvd to uiovv thv slivvt outwardly b v thv outward niovvnivnt thvreof to bring thv. shvvt upwardl \y bvtwvvn the. Conveying and lifting tapvs. v

'l`hv volnbination with a franiv. t-onvvying and lifting tapvs varrivd h v the frame, vvrtivallv inovahlv fvvdvr frauivS varrivd h v thv first 'nlvntionvd fralnv. wvightvd levers for vausing thv propvr tvnsion on both vnds of thv fvvdvr frauiv. and a brakv'for gow vrning said tvnsiou invans.

T. lu a papvr fvvd'vr` thv vonihination with a franiv, convvying and fvvdvr tapvs carried by thv frame, vvrtivally movablv vhaius varrivd by thv said frameria fevdvr frame carrivd b v the said vhain. wvightvd levers. engaging 'thv vhaius for vausing equal tension at vavh vnd of thv fvvdvr frame, a brake convonvvying and lifting tapes passing around `trolling thv movvmvnt; of said chain, and

thvl same roller, a` buckling invvhanism, a lingvr adaptvd to bv movvd under thv Sheet, of papvr attvr bving buvklvd,'a roller'adaptlnvans vontrollvd by the fveding mechanism for controlling thv said brake.

S. A papvr fvvdvr comprising a frame,

vd to be niovvd down upon the 'sheet of vonvvving and lifting tapes carried by' the paper above the lifting linger, ,whereby the frame, a paper supporting table below the tapes, vertically movable chains carried by the ends of the frame, weighted levers engaging the chains for causing an equaltension on the chains, a paper lifting framt ried by the chains.v means operated by the tape operating mechanism tor operating the lifting mechanism. and means controlled by the lifting.;` mechanism for releasing the brake controlling the vertically movable chains, substantially as shown and described. 10 In testimony whereof I aflix. my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY BRADSHAW.

Witnesses EDWIN LUMPKIN, S. H. EVANS. 

